Nikita Kucherov sat for the second straight game, then after the game reports began to surface that Kucherov was on the QMJHL trading block. One reporter said Kucherov had been playing “lazy.” Quebec has three import players and one has to move, though it was assumed Kucherov and his good friend Mikhail Grigorenko would be the ones staying. Nick Sorensen is the other import player. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. Kucherov was a surprise Import Draft selection because few expected him to be interested in coming to North America. Quebec’s Patrick Roy knew something others didn’t, and having Grigorenko on the Remparts was no doubt a big help in getting that talented Kucherov to North America. Kucherov could choose to return to Russia if he’s not happy with his next playing situation. Stay tuned.

Artem Sergeev (pictured) snapped a 3-game scoreless streak with a goal in New Brunswick. He is within two goals of his career high of seven goals, scored last year in 46 games. Moncton outshot the Foreurs, 42-21, on Friday.

Dylan Blujus scored his second goal of the year in a 4-3 win in Wayne Gretzky’s old stomping grounds. The Soo had a 2-0 lead entering the second period before the Battalion scored three times in the middle frame. Blujus had seven goals in 66 games last year.

Former Lightning camper Seth Griffith (Bruins) had a goal and two assists for London and was given First Star honors. Griffith and Lightning prospect Vladislav Namestnikov were linemates last year in London. With the win, the Knights leapfrogged the Attack for first in the Midwest Division. They also took over the OHL lead in points by one over Barrie and Owen Sound.

Tanner Richard had three helpers to regain the OHL assist lead from Islanders first rounder Ryan Strome (Niagara) at 25. Richard has played in two fewer games than Strome, who leads the league with 39 points. Former Lightning prospect Brock Beukeboom scored his first of the year for Guelph.

Dustin Tokarski (pictured) allowed 2 goals on 27 shots for his first victory of the season. That was a very solid rebound performance, especially in the Third Period, after an ugly stat line on opening night. So Tic just raised Riku, and we'll see what Helenius can do tomorrow to answer. It's great to have two really good young goaltenders who are the cusp of making the jump to the bigs pushing each other.

J.T. Brown scored his first goal as an AHLer to tie the game up in the second stanza.

There's a little rust on this Syracuse team that still needs to be knocked off. The east-west guys are still getting their timing back and the north-south guys, stylistically, are clearly ahead. So, I'd definitely say the Paniks and the Connollys are still feeling things out. It'll come, though. It's good to be 2-0-0-1 knowing these guys aren't close to what they're capable of yet.

For being such a young pup, Vladislav Namestnikov is holding his own. His power play assist from the Hershey game got switched to Cory Conacher shortly after the game, but he got his second helper of the season tonight and looks every bit as feisty as the scouting report says he is, even despite being on the skinny side. It wouldn't shock me, at all, if he had a really good second half once Coach Cooper gets him settled in. There's a slightly built guy wearing #12 for the Crunch who had a similar story last season.

Riku Helenius allowed 3 goals on 26 shots for the victory, in a successful return to North American hockey. This battle between Helenius and Dustin Tokarski for the top spot between the pipes in Syracuse is going to rage all season, and both guys are going to be better for it. It's an embarrassment of riches to boast two guys who won championships last season in the AHL and Finnish SM-liiga, respectively. Good. Problem. To. Have.

Cory Conacher (pictured) and Tyler Johnson were the game's first and second stars. For my money, Conacher was the best player in the league the first half of last season and Johnson the best in the second half. Why wouldn't they lead the Crunch in the home opener this year? With a little offseason rest, Conacher looks every bit the pesky scorer that tore up the league to start last year.

No offense to our friends in Hershey, but I have to confess to being a little stunned that this year's version of the Bears is the least stacked, on paper, I've seen in a while. Sure, there's some fine players like Orlov and Holtby, but without the likes of Bourque or Giroux, this year's team lacks the fear factor of many recent editions. It's going to be interesting to see how the division plays out over the course of the season.

Dustin Tokarski allowed 5 goals on 24 shots and 1 of 5 shooters to convert for the shootout loss. That's an ugly stat line for a young man trying to stave off a Riku Helenius challenge for the starting job.

I'm stunned that Syracuse threw out a shootout lineup of Palat, Connolly, Panik, Johnson, and Conacher and got nothing. That's five stud prospects with a lot of skill and... nada. I wouldn't have bet on that.

Syracuse outshot Rochester 34-25 in the game, and was very game to come out of a three goal hole to get a point out of the night. When Johnson pulled Syracuse ahead for the first time in the Third Period, you even had to think for a moment that maybe that killer instinct from Norfolk last season was still in effect. There was plenty of good, plenty of bad, and plenty of coachable moments for Jon Cooper to work on the team with after this one.

On to Syracuse tomorrow and the home opener against perennial power Hershey.

Despite the large void the NHL lockout created, the hockey season is already long underway. Various amateur and professional leagues throughout North America and Europe have wrapped up their preseasons and are set to begin or are already in the thick of regular season action.